High Damping Passive Launch Vibration Isolation System Using Superelastic SMA with Multilayered Viscous Lamina

Abstract

Whole-spacecraft launch-vibration isolation systems are attractive for achieving the goal of better, faster, cheaper, and lighter small satellites by reducing the design-load and vibration-test specifications for on-board components. In this study, a three-axis passive launch-vibration isolation system, based on superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) technology, was developed to significantly attenuate the dynamic launch loads transmitted to a small satellite. This provides a superior damping characteristic, achieved by superelastic SMA blades stiffened by multilayered thin plates with viscous lamina adhesive layers of acrylic tape. The basic characteristics of the proposed isolation system with various numbers of viscoelastic multilayers were obtained through a static load test. In addition, the effectiveness of the design was validated through a launch environment simulating sine and random vibration tests.

Development of Vibration Protection Systems of Spacecraft — State of the Art and Perspectives

“…Problems remain in designing a vibration protection system to achieve the required quality of passive vibration suppression with a minimum spacecraft weight. At the same time, in the case of suppression of high-frequency vibrations of the spacecraft [44] using electromagnetic activators (active vibration isolating systems), the need to introduce additional elastic forces into the system (i.e., elements of passive vibration damping) is shown [29].…”

“…When choosing the parameters and developing the vibration protection system, they primarily rely on the data of flight tests of the launch vehicle, based on which the acting loads on the spacecraft are determined [1,39] during the launch and flight of the launch vehicle, on the results of numerous vibration tests of the spacecraft on unique stands [13,26,29]. When processing the vibration protection system, it must be taken into account that during ground tests of the spacecraft, the dynamic characteristics of the system with the spacecraft are almost impossible to fully reproduce since the dissipative forces and surface tension forces realized in flight under microgravity conditions will be somewhat different than under the conditions of the earth gravity [3].…”

“…Based on research by Park et al [29], a triaxial passive launch vibration isolation system based on shape memory alloy (SMA) technology was developed to significantly attenuate launch dynamic loads transmitted to small-weight spacecraft. This provides excellent damping performance with super-elastic SMA blades reinforced with multi-layered thin plates with viscous lamellar adhesive layers of acrylic tape (Fig.…”

“…The New Space requires commercialization, which leads to changing the central driving role from government-funded organizations to privately owned ones. As SpaceX and many other private companies have proved, getting the commercial value to push more investment into the space sector requires more efficient and cheaper designing and development processes [29].…”

Active Flutter Suppression of Smart-Skin Antenna Structures with Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators

“…Liu et al [15] investigated the dynamic response of laminated composite plates with piezoelectric materials subjected to mechanical and electrical loadings. Recently, research on vibration control for space application has been actively performed using smart materials [16][17][18].…”